Ngā Tauira Māori

Ngā Tauira Māori is the Māori student association located at the University of Auckland. Our roopu members include:

Kohanga & Te Matapuna (Psychology and Sociology)

MOPAS (Faculty of Business & Economics)

Te Rakau Ture (Faculty of Law)

MAPAS (Faculty of Medical and Health Science)

Whaihanga (Architecture, Property, Planning and Fine Arts)

Tamaki Roopu (Tamaki Campus)

Tumutumu Korero (History)

SPIES (Engineering)

Nga Tauira Puaho (Science)

as well others including Post graduates students, Sports Groups and Te Roopu Kapahaka.

There are more groups on campus, as well as new groups forming all the time, contact us for more information.

Our mission statement is to “encourage and support Auckland University Māori students in their academic, cultural and social development and achievements, generally in the context of Tino Rangatiratanga and in a manner consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, its principles and tikanga…”

Structure

Ngā Tauira Māori is representative of all Māori Auckland university students. We have two Tumuaki (called Māori Student Officers), an executive committee and an administration staff member. The executive committee consists of a Treasurer, Secretary and Portfolio holders. Most members of the executive and the MSO’s are elected annually at the Annual General Meeting usually held in March, others like the roopu reps, are elected or appointed by their respective roopu. Decision-making is done in regular Hui open to all members – check notice boards for times. These Hui discuss issues and formulate and implement action and activities.

What does Ngā Tauira Māori do?

Ngā Tauira Māori is responsible for advocating better conditions for Māori Students on campus and all issues pertaining to Māori, and students, in general. We support and provide services to all Māori students (and their roopu) catering to their specific educational, cultural, social and political needs. We support, encourage and practice tikanga Māori and te reo maori and nurture an environment where Māori students feel more comfortable.

How do we do this?

Primarily we try to change the systems that effect Māori within the University. One of the ways we do this is through lobbying of university committees. We provide a point of contact for the discussion of all policy that will ultimately affect Māori students. We also take a proactive stance in creating change within the institution in which we all study.

Activities we undertake include:

Orientation programmes

Māori Graduation ceremonies (2 annually)

Exam wananga

Tutorials and study groups

Haerenga (recruitment drives)

Social activities (including sports competitions, socials and the Māori Ball)

Advocacy

Te Huinga Tauira – national Māori Student gathering

Partnerships

We are affiliated with Te Mana Akonga, the national Māori student association, which represents Māori tertiary student issues at a national level.

Ngā Tauira Māori has a parallel relationship with Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA). We have an agreement ensuring a treaty-based partnership where each organisation is an equal partner, representing students with many similar concerns, but also with distinctive focuses and issues of concern.